Professor lauded for research on Native-newcomer relations

University of Saskatchewan (U of S) history professor Jim Miller has been awarded the Gold Medal for Achievement in Research by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which is the funding agency’s highest honour.

Miller has been researching the evolving relationships between Aboriginal Peoples and the varying families and cultures that continue to settle in Canada.
 
Miller discussed what created this interest in the relationships between Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada.

Initially from Eastern Canada, Miller moved to Saskatchewan and started to teach at the U of S in 1980.  He started his research in the field of French-English relations.  He worked in this area for 12-13 years, until he felt he needed a change.

“I got tired of researching this field and based on living in Saskatchewan became conscious of the presence of Aboriginal people and their relationships with new comers,” Miller said.

He then started this work in 1983-84 and has since wrote some influential research books:
Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens: A History of Indian-White Relations in Canada, which is now in its third edition and his book Shingwauk’s Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools, which has earned Miller numerous awards and honours based on the comprehensive history of residential schools in Canada.

Miller currently holds the Canada Research Chair in Native-Newcomer Relations and is Canada’s leading expert on historical and contemporary issues related to Aboriginal-new comer relations.  His expertise was utilized when he provided commentary for the live coverage of the residential school apology from Harper’s government to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples for the trauma encountered in the schools.

According to Michael Robin, Research Communications for the U of S, recipients of the SSHRC Gold Medal are nominated by their peers and selected by a multidisciplinary committee comprised of leading university researchers from Canada and abroad.  Winners receive a gold medal and $100,000 towards research and scholarly activities.

This award will provide resources for further research, said Miller.

“(It) helps by providing information on Residential School Truth and Reconciliation and assists in graduate student training,” he added.

Upon winning the award Miller said he was overwhelmed with emotions and was quite surprised by the honour.

He is grateful for the many people that have assisted him to this point.  This is also an exceptional honour because aside from being only the 8th person to win this award since its inception in 2003, he is also the first historian to receive the gold medal for his research.

“These winners are excellent examples of the impact that research in the social sciences and humanities has on society and of its importance to Canada’s success,” stated SSHRC President Chad Gaffield.

Miller agrees that this award provides the recognition that the research on Aboriginal-new comer relations in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada is important.

“The field of Aboriginal-new comer relations/history is a fascinating field of study, it connects us to our everyday life and is significant work in Saskatchewan, throughout Canada and internationally,” Miller said.